Tear-strip pill package



J n- 17, 19 1 G. c. SPARKS 2,968,391

TEAR-STRIP PILL PACKAGE Filed June 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V INVENTOR.

61901965 CZ SPARKS Jan. 17, 19 1 G. c. SPARKS 2,968,391

TEAR-STR IP PILL PACKAGE Filed June 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @kvfl /M\am "a" f "Pa" Hi 7 3/ gz 7 3/ L 8 JNVENTOR.

. Q GEOFGE C. SPAR/(S film} t s Patent TEAR-STRIP'PILL PACKAGE:

George C. Sparks, Sparks Corporation, Shurs Lane and Pechin St.,Philadelphia," Pa.

FiledjJune 19, 1958, Ser; No 743,188

8 Claims. (Cl. 206-42) This invention relates generally to dispensingcontainers or packages. of the general type disclosed" in co-p'en'dingpatent application Serial Number 587,143, filed 'Mayy24, 1 956, of whichthis application is a continuation i'n'part.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustratedin the drawings and which will be de: scribed hereinafter in. greaterdetail, comprises: generally an inner sheet having atleast oneindentation or depression formed therein for receiving an article to becon tained, a. pair of outer sheets on opposite sides of and sandwichedabout the inner sheet with one of the outer sheets overlying, andclosing the article receiving recess; andmeans for operating upon one ofthe outersheetsto effect opening of the recess for discharge of thecontained article.

It is oneobjectof the-present invention to'prjoyide a dispensingcontainer of the type described which is exf tremely simple andinexpen'sivein construction, quickly operable without the exercise ofgreat skill, attractive in appearance, and which enables the contentsand advertising indicia to be advantageously displayed, ifldesired.

It is another object of the present invention to provideadis'pensingcontainer of the type described which" is durable andreliable in use, foolproof, in operation, and ex= tremely light inweight and small in size, being substantially flat for convenience inmailing or carrying on the person of the user.

A more particular object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a container'having the advantageous characteristics.mentioned in the preceding para graphs, and which effectivleyprotectsthe contents against moistureand dirt, and which includes novel andadvantageous opening or dispensing means not adversely affecting-theprotective. character of the package.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparenfupon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of thisdisclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of whichthescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a package constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing the package of Figure 1;

Figure? is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substanitallyalong the line 44 of Figure l; I Figure 5 is a partial bottom or rearview similar to Fig- 'ure 2, but illustrating the opening procedure, andshowing interior structure of the package;

Figure 6 isa front or top planview-similar to Figurel,

ice

but showing a slightly modified form of package constructedinaccordance" with the present invention;

Figure 7is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3 8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9'is a partial rear or bottom plan view similar to'Figure 5, butshowing the embodiment of Figures 68 in the process of being opened; and

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along; theline 10'10 of Figure 9;

Referringinow more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFigures 1-5 thereof, the package illustrated thereinisgenerallydesignated 20'and includes a pair of substantiallycongruent, generalyrectangular outer walls, the front outer Well being designated 21, andthe rear outer wall 22. The outer. walls 21 and 22 are advantageously'fabricated of cardboard, and may be formed asan integral,,folded piece,or of separate sheets. The front sheet 21' is formed with at least one,and preferably a plurality of through holes or cutouts 23,advantageously arranged in a line, for purposes appearing presently. Thecutouts 23 are located centrally of or in spaced relation within theperipheral edge of the front outer sheet 21.

The rear outer sheet 22 is formed with a weakened portion 25' defined'within cut or score line 26. More specifically; the cuts or score lines26 extend inward from one end edge of the outer sheet 22 to definethereof an elongate portion 25 bounded by the score lines, and thusweakened. for easy severance and" removal from the remainder ofthe rearouter sheet. The weakened rear outer'sheet portion 25vmay include a tabor extension part 27 projecting beyond one end edge of the outer sheet.In the congruent relation of the front and rear outer" sheets 21 and22', the weakened rear outer sheet portion 25" is located to liedirectly behind the cutouts 23 of the front outer sheet.

Interposed in sandwiched relation between the front and rear outersheets 21 and 22 is an inner sheet 30, preferably fabricatedofrelatively thin, transparent plastic, and which may be of rectangularconfiguration similar to but substantially smaller than that of theouter sheets; The plastieinner sheet 30 is sandwiched between the outersheets 21 and 22 in homothetic relation with respect thereto, so as tohave its peripheral edge spaced substantially inward at allpoints fromthe peripheral edges of the outer sheets. Formed in the plastic sheet30, cen

trally thereof or in spacedrelation with respect to the peripheral edgethereof, is one or more indentations or depressions 31 which projectforward from or 'onto' the forward side of the inner sheet and openrearward from or on the rearward side of the inner sheet. With the innersheet 30 sandwiched between and in homothetic relation with respect tothe congruent outer sheets 21' and 22, the depressions 31 are located inrespective alignment with and projecting forward through the cutouts 23of the front outer sheet; and'further, the depressions define recessesfacing rearward toward the scored or weakened strip portion 25 of therear outer sheet. .The depressions 31 are illustrated as each containingthe pair of pills 3'2, being specially configured to conformably receivethe pills, but of course, other articles and other quantities thereofmay also lac-accommodated.

The outer'sheets 21 and 22 maybe adhesively secured in facing engagementabout their peripheral portions, which portions lie beyond theperipheral edge of the inner sheet 30; and, the inner sheet will beeifectively retained in its homothetic relation with respect to theouter sheets both by frictional engagement therewith and thepositive'retaining action of the depressed portions 31 in the cutouts23.

- Afiex-ible, relatively strong tear strip, asofmetalfoil,"

plastic, or the like, is generally designated 35, and arranged on therear face or side of the inner sheet 30 extending along the line of,across and over the openings of the depressions 31. That is, as bestseen in Figure 3, the tear strip or tape 35 is disposed in facingengagement with, but unsecured to the rear side or face of the innersheet 30, and extends along the weakened rear sheet portion 25, acrossand over the depressions 31, so as to be spaced from the bottom orforward, depressed wall of the depressions by the contained articles 32.The tear strip or tape 35 may be seen in outline in Figure 2 asextending the entire length of the weakened rear sheet portion 25, andtherebeyond, as at 36 to the right-hand end edges of the outer sheets.The end tape portion 36 may be anchored to the outer sheets by themarginal adhesive securement of the latter. Also as seen in Figure 2,the tear tape or strip 35 projects leftward beyond the lefthand end ofthe outer sheets, and also beyond the projecting tab 27 of the weakenedportion 25, to define a free end or pull portion 37.

A moisture barrier or liquid-impermeable sheet 40 is sandwiched betweenthe rear face of the inner sheet 30, and the front face of the rearouter sheet 22, which sheet is advantageously fabricated of metal foilor other impermeable sheet material having the free-rupturing charac-'teristics of metal foil. As may be observed in Figures 2, 3 and 5, themoisture barrier or foil sheet 40 is also of a rectangular-outlineconfiguration similar to that of the outer sheets 21 and 22, but smallerin dimensions than the outer sheets and larger in dimensions than theinner sheet 30. The moisture barrier 40 is arranged in homothetierelation with respect to the outer and inner sheets, completelyoverlying the inner sheet on the rear face thereof, also overlying thetear tape 35, and having its peripheral portion extending beyond theperipheral edge of the inner sheet to the marginal portion of the outersheets, where it is adhesively secured between the latter. The moisturebarrier 40 is advantageously also adhesively secured to the rear face ofthe inner sheet, whereby its overlying and closing relationship with thedepressions 31 effectively seals the article-containing space within thedepressions.

In manufacture, with articles 32 received in the recessed portions 31 ofthe previously formed inner sheet '30, the tear strip or tape 35 ispositioned on the rear surface of the inner sheet, extending across therecessed portions 31 and on top or rearward of the contents thereof. Themoisture barrier or foil sheet 40 is then arranged on the rear surfaceof the inner sheet, completely overlying the latter, and over the tape35, with the peripheral mois ture-barrier portions extending beyond theperipheral edge of the inner sheet. The moisture barrier, in thisposition, is secured in facing engagement with the rear surface of theinner sheet. These thus-assembled elements may then be placed on therear surface of the front outer sheet 21, with the depressed inner-sheetportions 31 received in and projecting forward through the cutouts 23 ofthe front outer sheet. The rear outer sheet 22 may then be superposed onthe rear surface of the moisture barrier 40 and extending therebeyond incongruent relation with respect to the front outer sheet 21.. It may beobserved in Figures 2, 3 and 5, that the peripheral edge of the moisturebarrier 40 extends closely adjacent to but spaced inward from theperipheral edges of the front and rear outer sheets 21 and 22; and, theouter sheets are preferably adhesively secured together about theirfacing peripheral margins with the peripheral margin of the moisturebarrier secured therebetween.

In order to operate the instant device, his only neemsary to apply arearward pulling force to the free end 37 of tear tape 35, which willeflFeet severance of the weakened rear outer-sheet portion 25 from theremainder of the rear outer sheet in the rightward direction, as seen inFigure 2. Simultaneously, the tape 35 effects rupture of the moisturebarrier 40 along a portion 41 contiguous to the tear tape, see Figure 5.This, of course, efiects opening of a recess 31 for convenient access tothe contained articles 32. The articles 32 may be discharged from therecess 31 by mere inversion of the device. As illustrated in Figure 5,the tear tape 35 may be pulled sufficiently to open a single recess 31,or any desired number of recesses, while the remaining recesses, if any,stay closed in their sealed condition.

In the embodiment of Figures 6-10, the dispensing container is theregenerally designated 20a, and the structure thereof is substantially thesame as that of Figures 1-5, except that the tear tape or strip 35a ofthe device 20a, corresponding to the tear tape 35 of the device 20, islocated and arranged differently with respect to the remaining parts ofthe device.

More specifically, as best seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the tear tape 35aextends along the rear surface of the inner sheet 30, successivelyacross each of the depressed pockets or recesses 31, but interiorly ofeach depression along the bottom or forwardly projecting wall thereof,to lie between the contained articles 32 and the inner surfaces of thedepressions. This arrangement may be obtained in assembly of the deviceby introducing the articles 32 into the recesses 31 after the tear tape35a has been positioned on the rear side of the inner sheet 30 extendingacross the recesses. The moisture barrier 40 may then be secured inposition as described hereinbefore; and, it will be noted that thearticles 32 are arranged directly between the tear tape and moisturebarrier.

Operation of the device 20a is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the freeend 370 of tape 35a having been pulled to sever and remove a part of theweakened back or outer-sheet portion 25. Pulling of the tape to effectthis opening or severance of the weakened back sheet portion necessarilycauses displacement of the articles 32 out of the recess 31, the tapebeing in front of the articles and moving rearward to carry the articlesrearward and effect their removal from the recess. However, the moisturebarrier 40 is ruptured by pulling of the tape to define a severedportion or strip 41a extending along the tape. Moreover, the strip 41aformed of the moisture barrier 40 by rupture thereof is located on therearward side of the articles 32, opposite to the tape, and combineswith the latter to frictionally retain therebetween the articles uponremoval of the latter from the depressions 31. This is the conditionillustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Of course, the articles 32 carriedbetween the tape 35 and strip portion 41a may be readily dislodgedtherefrom for use.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides adispensing container which fully accomplishes its intended objects, andis well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture,distribution, and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing container comprising a relatively thin plastic innersheet formed with at least one depression spaced inward from theperipheral edge of said inner sheet and defining a recess opening towardone side of said inner sheet, said depression projecting on the otherside of said inner sheet and being configured to contain a predeterminedquantity of articles, a tear strip on said one side of said inner sheetarranged across and of a width less than said recess and having one endextending beyond the adjacent edge portion of said inner sheet, a firstcoplanar cardboard outer sheet arranged in facing engagement with saidone side of said inner sheet in closing relation with said recessoverlying said tear strip and having its peripheral portion extendingbeyond the peripheral edge of said inner sheet and terminating short ofsaid one tear-strip end, said first outer sheet having a weakenedportion extending along said tear strip overlying and of a width greaterthan said recess, and a second substantially coplanar outer sheetarranged on the other side of said inner sheet overlying and having itsperipheral portion extending beyond the peripheral edge of said innersheet terminating short of said one tearstrip end and adhesively secureddirectly to and in facing engagement with the peripheral portion of saidfirst outer sheet, whereby said one tear-strip end extends beyond saidouter sheets for manual grasping and a pull exerted on said tear stripefiects severance of said weakened first outer sheet portion tocompletely open said recess.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1, said inner sheet beingformed with a plurality of depressions spaced inward from the peripheraledge of said inner sheet and defining a plurality of recesses openingtoward said one side of said inner sheet, said tear strip extendingsuccessively across all of said recesses, and the weakened portion ofsaid first outer sheet extending along said tear strip and overlying allof said recesses, whereby a pull exerted on said tear strip effectsseverance of said weakened first outer sheet portion to successivelyopen said recesses. r

3. A dispensing container according to claim 1, said second outer sheetbeing cut out to receive the projection of said depression.

4. A dispensing container according to claim 1, in combination with arupturable moisture barrier interposed between said inner and firstouter sheets completely overlying said recess and tear strip saidbarrier being severable simultaneously with said weakened first outersheet portion by said tear strip along a width approximately equal tosaid tear strip to leave barrier portions partially overlying saidrecess and retaining the contents therein.

5. A dispensing container according to claim 4, said moisture barriercomprising metal foil adhesively secured to said one side of said innersheet.

6. A dispensing container comprising a relatively thin plastic innersheet formed with at least one depression spaced inward from theperipheral edge of said inner sheet and defining a recess opening towardone side of said inner sheet, said depression projecting on the otherside of said inner sheet and being configured to contain a predeterminedquantity of articles, a tear strip on said one side of said inner sheetextending interiorly across said recess along the bottom thereof andtherebeyond for interposition of said tear strip between an article insaid recess and the bottom of said recess, a first coplanar cardboardouter sheet arranged in facing engagement with said one side of saidinner sheet in closing relation with said recess overlying said tearstrip and having its peripheral portion extending beyond the peripheraledge of said inner sheet, said first outer sheet having a weakenedportion extending along said tear strip and overlying said recess, and asecond substantially coplanar outer sheet arranged on the other side ofsaid inner sheet overlying and having its peripheral portion extendingbe yond the peripheral edge of said inner sheet and adhesive- 1y secureddirectly to and in facing engagement with the peripheral portion of saidfirst outer sheet, whereby a pull exerted on said tear strip effectsseverance of said weakened first outer sheet portion and ejection ofsaid article from said recess.

7. A dispensing container according to claim 6, in combination with arupturable moisture barrier interposed between said inner and firstouter sheets overlying said recess and tear strip for severance by saidtear strip with said weakened first outer sheet portion.

8. A dispensing container according to claim 7, said moisture barrierhaving the rupturing characteristics of metal foil to rupture upon saidexerted pull and define of said barrier a second strip extending closelyalong said tear strip, said second strip and tear strip serving toretain therebetween an article removed from said recess and preventingits projection from said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS881,011 Lambert Mar. 3, 1908 2,194,828 Greaves Mar. 26, 1940 2,568,625Harvey Sept. 18, 1951 2,813,624 Phipps Nov. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS643,196 France May 15, 1928

